Glenn Bartley – a Wildlife Photographer in His Own Words

Portfolio 59 The Hummingbird Whisperer

A selection of spectacular, unique portraits by a professional nature photographer from Canada - whose personal technique and intimate images of birds from the Neotropical Region are admired, envied and imitated throughout the world Glenn Bartley – A Wildlife Photographer in his own words

My love for photography started as a child many years ago in a backyard in Ontario, ability to create stunning images of rare and nearly impossible birds to photograph. Canada. I was lying under a hummingbird feeder with a simple 35mm camera trying Today my images are well respected and represented around the world. I am an award desperately to capture an image of these mesmerizing birds. The photos that I captured winning photographer whose work is regularly featured in North American and International that day may not have been very good – but the experience led to a love of nature nature books, calendars and publications. My work is regularly featured in magazines and photography that would one day blossom. Many years later I traveled to Australia such as Audubon, Birdwatching, Canadian Wildlife, Birders World, and many more. for a university semester abroad. The opportunity motivated me to buy a capable camera My images regularly appear in books on birds including several by National Geographic. and to learn more about the art of photography. In those days of slide film and with only I have also published several books of my own including my most recent books a short telephoto zoom lens birds were, for the most part, still out of range. My passion Birds of Ecuador and Birds of Vancouver Island. for photography however was growing. Before long digital SLR’s became the norm My primary equipment includes Canon digital SLR camera bodies and an assortment of Canon and I had purchased a 300mm f/4 lens. I finally had a set up capable of capturing some lenses. By far the lens that sees the most use is the Canon 500mm F4 L often coupled with a good bird images. After completing my undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies 1.4x Canon teleconverter. I also use the Canon 400mm F5.6L, 300mm F4L, 70-200mm F4L I traveled to Costa Rica for 6 months to immerse myself in nature photography. That trip and the 17-40mm F4L for wide angle shots and landscape photography.Ishoot most images solidified my love of bird photography and, from then on, much of my free time was spent using a sturdy tripod. I use the Gitzo 3540 XLS carbon fiber tripod and a Wimberly gimbal learning this craft. After achieving a Masters of Science degree in Ecological Restoration head. I use a variety of Canon flashes including the Canon 580EX II with a Better Beamer flash I once again set off for the New World Tropics. This time my goal was to spend 6 months extender, 430EX and MR-14EX macro flash. In addition to my own photographic pursuits, in Ecuador and do nothing but bird photography. On this trip I practiced and developed my I also lead instructional photographic workshops to exciting destinations throughout the techniques for tropical bird photography and especially multiflash hummingbird photography. Americas. These tours are designed to take advantage of my extensive experience in this By the time I returned to Canada many people were starting to take notice of my unique region and teach participants to capture their own spectacular images of tropical birds. . www.glennbartley.com 60 Portfolio

Tufted Coquette - Trinidad Rainbow Starfrontlet - Ecuador One of the most extravagan- Multiflash hummingbird photography works tly adorned birds in the by eliminating most or all of the natural light world, the Tufted Coquette in the image. By controlling the light can be found on the Island on the subject and background, using artificial of Trinidad. sources, the photographer can also control Camera Model: Canon EOS 7D the duration of light that exposes the image. Shutter speed: 1/200 sec If the flash fires for only 1/16000 of a second Aperture: 5.6 then only that brief moment is recorded in the image. Exposure compensation: -2/3 In this way the photographer can freeze Flash: On the rapid wing beats of a hummingbird. ISO: 800 Camera Model: Canon EOS 50D Lens: EF500mm f/4L IS USM Shutter speed: 1/250 sec +1.4x Aperture: 9 Flash: On ISO: 200 Lens: EF500mm f/4L IS USM Portfolio 61

Bearded Mountaineer – Peru Buff-tailed Coronet – Ecuador Endemic to southern Peru, this species feeds most commonly at the Nicotina flower. In this classic multiflash hummingbird photograph the goal was to create This image was captured by waiting at the birds favourite flowering bush a natural looking scene using artificial light from 5 flashes, and using natural light. an artificial background and a staged flower. Camera Model: Canon EOS 7D Camera Model: Canon EOS 50D Shutter speed: 1/640 sec Shutter speed: 1/250 sec Aperture: 5.6 Aperture: 6.3 Flash: On Flash: On ISO: 400 ISO: 200 Lens: EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x Lens: EF500mm f/4L IS USM Portfolio 62

Ruby Topaz - Tobago The iridescence of hummingbirds is often brought out by the positioning of the flash/es. Would-be spectacular images may not live up to their potential if the delicate angle of iridescence is not successfully captured. Camera Model: Canon EOS 7D Shutter speed: 1/250 sec Aperture: 8 Flash: On ISO: 400 Lens: EF400mm f/5.6L USM Portfolio 63

Black-crested Coquette - Costa Rica The Coquette’s are some of the smallest and cutest hummingbirds. They are typified by not only their small size, but also the amazing ornamental feathers that the male birds possess. Camera Model: Canon EOS 7D Shutter speed: 1/4000 sec Aperture: 5.6 Flash: Off ISO: 800 Lens: EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x

Wire-crested Thorntail - Peru The long tail and strange head feathers of the Wire-crested Thorntail give it an “out-of-this-world” appearance.

Camera Model: Canon EOS 7D Shutter speed: 1/1000 sec Aperture: 5.6 Flash: Off ISO: 800 Lens: EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x Portfolio 64

Fiery-throated Hummingbird - Costa Rica A truly spectacular species of the Costa Rican highlands, the Fiery-throated Hummingbird has an iridescent throat that is unlike any other hummingbird. Camera Model: Canon EOS 7D Shutter speed: 1/640 sec Aperture: 5.6 Flash: On ISO: 800 Lens: EF300mm f/4L IS USM

White-necked Jacobin - Ecuador The White-necked Jacobin is one of the most wide ranging tropical hummingbird species. It is easy to identify by its unique blue head and contrasting white neck. Camera Model: Canon EOS 50D Shutter speed: 1/250 sec Aperture: 7.1 Flash: On ISO: 200 Lens: EF300mm f/4L IS USM 65 Portfolio Sword-billed Hummingbird - Ecuador The Sword-billed Hummingbird has an unbelievably long bill. It is so long and heavy that these birds must perch with their bills straight up in the air or risk tipping over. Watching these birds sip nectar from the long tubular flowers high in the Andes, it is easy to see how these birds have evolved along with the flowers that they feed upon. Camera Model: Canon EOS 50D Shutter speed: 1/250 sec Aperture: 8 Flash: On ISO: 200 Lens: EF300mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x

Great Sapphirewing - Ecuador One of the largest hummingbirds in the world, the Great Sapphirewing lives in the highlands of the Andes. Their large wings beat slower than many smaller species giving them an appearance that almost resembles a large butterfly. Camera Model: Canon EOS 50D Shutter speed: 1/250 sec Aperture: 8 Flash: On ISO: 200 Lens: EF300mm f/4L IS USM Portfolio 66

Marvelous Spatuletail - Peru Perhaps the most spectacular of all the hummingbirds, the Marvelous Spatuletail lives only in a small area in Northern Peru. The males have incredibly long tails that truly must be seen to be believed. Camera Model: Canon EOS 7D Shutter speed: 1/250 sec Aperture: 7.1 Flash: On ISO: 200 Lens: EF500mm f/4L IS USM Portfolio 67

Gray-chinned Hermit - Ecuador Violet Sabrewings - Costa Rica The Hermits are not the most flashy of all the hummingbirds. Generally gray and A large hummingbird of the cloud forests of Costa Rica, the Violet Sabrewings is truly brown with decurved bills, these birds often feed at the flowers of Heliconia plants. (1) unmistakable. (2) Camera Model: Canon EOS 50D Camera Model: Canon EOS 7D Shutter speed: 1/250 sec Shutter speed: 1/200 sec Aperture: 9 Aperture: 6.3 Flash: On Flash: On ISO: 200 ISO: 250 Lens: EF500mm f/4L IS USM Lens: EF300mm f/4L IS USM

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Rufous-crested Coquette - Peru Sometimes a simple portrait of a species allows the viewer to best admire the characteristics of these amazing birds. Camera Model: Canon EOS 7D Shutter speed: 1/400 sec Aperture: 5.6 Flash: On ISO: 400 Lens: EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x Portfolio 69

Violet-crowned Woodnymph - Costa Rica Hummingbirds, like all birds, must bathe to keep their feathers clean. These birds are also very habitual about where they take their baths. This image was captured using a multi flash technique at a location where I had seen hummingbirds bathing repeatedly. After waiting for several days I finally captured an image of one of these beautiful birds emerging from the water. Camera Model: Canon EOS 7D Shutter speed: 1/200 sec Aperture: 5.6 Flash: On ISO: 800 Lens: EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x